The system for aluminum boat paint is much more simple than with steel boats.
According to Michael Kasten of Kasten Marine Design, you can paint areas of the aluminum boat where things are or will be mounted. Otherwise, marine aluminum allows do not require any painting.
As in any other paint jobs, preparation time is very important in achieving a sleek finish for your aluminum boat paint. Whether you are painting your boat for the first time or repainting it, you must first clean the aluminum surface to remove dirt and other greases. In the case of old boats, you would need to remove old paint and oxide from the surface. Thorough sanding, cleaning, and etching would go a long way in achieving the look that you desire for your aluminum boat.
Epoxy paint is a simple yet very effective way of protecting metal boats such as aluminum fishing boats. With the aluminum surface protected with the right amount of epoxy paint, you can then apply appropriate top coat such as foam, enamel, or linear polyurethane.
Owners of aluminum fishing boats should make sure that they use only tin-based paints and avoid paints that contain copper. Copper produces a galvanic current when submerged in water with aluminum, causing the aluminum to corrode rapidly. Using a copper antifouling paint on an aluminum boat could cause serious structural damage on the boat.
There is no need to paint the interior of an aluminum boat but it may be a good idea to apply an epoxy primer on the interior.
For old aluminum boats, remember that aluminum cannot be painted directly. A conversion coat must first be applied before the surface is painted with any metal paint. Do not waste your time and energy skipping this process or you will just end up with peeling paint on your aluminum boat.
You can follow these steps to for the repainting of your aluminum boat:
- Sand the aluminum surface until smooth and free of scratches or gouges.
- Clean the aluminum thoroughly with soap and water then let dry.
- After it is dry, use a grease removing solvent such as enamel or lacquer thinner to clean it further. Wipe off the solvent with a different cloth.
- Using a big rag or cloth, wipe the aluminum again to remove dust particles. You may need to wipe several times.
- Use a vinyl wash primer as conversion coat for your aluminum boat. Make sure to read manufacturer's instructions and warnings before using such products. You may need to wear a respirator when spraying vinyl wash primer.
- Spray the entire area of the aluminum smoothly with same stroke and speed. For best results, overlap the spray strokes a couple of inches as you spray. Make sure not to miss any spots. However, too much spray of vinyl wash primer can also cause it to peel so just do it in the right amount.
- Expect the primer to darken when it gets dry.
- You may apply another paint after 24 hours.
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